hitlesswonder

QUOTE(joeynach @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 11:46 PM) I dont think anyone doubted that hes overpayed. He 100% is. But what else was KW gonna do. Trot out Bukvich and Dewon Day again, go bring Riske back. I mean Linebrink might not be Joba Chamberlin what what are other options did we have to improve our pen. There were other options out there -- the Japanese relievers signed by CLE and KC. The Sox were supposedly interested in the guy that signed with KC. The other option is to give Broadway, Egbert, Aardsma (at least he was briefly good last year), Gio, Haegar, and MacDougal shots at jobs and save the money.

QUOTE(3E8 @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 11:32 PM) Has nothing to do with trends. The quote clearly implies pitching in PETCO has improved his career line, when that is in fact, false. A simple glance at his career home/away splits shows EVERYTHING has been better on the road. ERA, WHIP, BAA, H/9, K/9, BB/9, HR/9. Don't use that as your argument for 2nd worst FA signing if it isn't even true. I agree with that completely -- it was bad, lazy writing. But I think Linebrink was a bad signing. Perry got the answer right, but for incorrect reasons.

QUOTE(joeynach @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 11:29 PM) Could very well be its a place HR hitters go to die. Rowand has averaged 17 HRs a year over the last 3 years in excellent power parks. Less the 18 HRs is not unreasonable.

QUOTE(joeynach @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 11:28 PM) Im not saying Linebrink is the answer, obviously hes an upgrade over Day or Bukvich, but dont underestimate the need for a quality bullpen. Bukvich had a 5.05 ERA last season. Linebrink's ZiPS projection for 2008 is 4.7 (5.09 in 2009). So, he'll probably be better but probably not by much. Linebrink's K numbers: Year K/9 ------------ 2004 8.89 2005 8.55 2006 8.09 2007 6.40 And his HR rate has gone up 40% over the last 3 seasons.

QUOTE(3E8 @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 11:19 PM) "In Linebrink's case, his career numbers are made to look better than they are because of all the time he spent in run-suppressing Petco Park" Would be nice to get paid for no research and false claims I guess it would...but Linebrink's ERA+ is on a 3 or 4 year trend toward not as good isn't? So even if Perry didn't look up the Home/Road splits, I think he could still be right here.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:52 PM) The Brewers window is closing fast??? Well, it'll start closing really fast if the make lousy trades like Sheets & Hall for Crede, Mac, and Gio.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 11:05 PM) It just seems like KW doesn't have a good feel for the current market that baseball is existing in. No, for the second year in a row he has completely misjudged the resources necessary to acquire the players he wanted in trade or in free agency. It's one thing to choose to "go for it" in 2008 rather than rebuild -- I think it's the wrong decision, but whatever. But Williams hasn't even been able to go for it competently. It's harsh, but at this point the Sox just look ridiculously delusional and outclassed.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:50 PM) No kidding....he really messed that up, especially considering Cabrera won't sign an extension. And then the final blow will be when the Sox refuse to offer arbitration to Cabrera, thereby not getting draft picks either....

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:47 PM) It's okay, fellas, this just puts the Cubs in a better position to compete with us. I'm thinking more and more about the Garland-Cabrera trade. I'm thinking Kenny acted much too quickly. He said he had deals on the table where we would've gotten prospects back -- hell, I don't think it's a stretch to say the Sox could've gotten Milledge for Garland and somebody else (or some cash). We're so f***ed right now. I'm gonna laugh when Kenny tries to tell the fans we're going to compete in 2008 with Jerry Owens in CF. Linebrink ($5M a year, no-trade, 4 years, lose a 2nd round pick) and Garland for a veteran player are playing out to be pretty terrible moves. I don't know if Garland could get Milledge if NY really wanted a C and vet OF. But putting Milledge in CF would have been just a big of an upgrade as Cabrera at SS is....oh well....

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 10:27 PM) The roster, as it's currently constructed, would likely get 5th place in the AL Central. Even Ozzie knows we need help. If the Sox add Rowand, it's probably still a 5th place team. But the upside is that the Sox wouldn't trade Gio for Pierre or Gio+Sweeney+who know what else for Crisp....

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 09:38 PM) All the signs are there: - We need a CF - We need a leadoff hitter - Dodgers don't want him - Ozzie loves him I think they will trade for Pierre. They aren't going to sign Rowand I think -- he's just to pricey for the Sox. Gio for Pierre+some money??

QUOTE(Chombi @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 02:45 PM) The vibe I got was that we don't have a chance and that it is a shame. That seemed to be the driving point of it. A team with a 100 million dollar payroll and a WS ring from two years ago is looked at as "out of it" because the league is that good. That's what I got out of it. OK, this is going to sound negative...but the Sox are "out of it" because of 5+ years of horrible drafting, player development, and having no international presence. Cleveland doesn't have a $100M payroll and they aren't out of it. The Sox don't have the money to match DET, NYY, BOS, and LAA. So yes, that makes it harder to compete. But there's no reason why they can't compete organizationally just the way the Twins and A's have for far less money.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 11, 2007 -> 12:52 PM) The Cubs will like make a flurry of moves soon. So the rumor milll is: 1) The sigining of Fukudome 2) Acquiring Brian Roberts for something like Marshall, Gallagher and a MI prospect Is that right?

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 10, 2007 -> 05:49 AM) I think its kind of funny that people get all worked up when Ozzie or Kenny say these sorts of things. What do you expect them to say? My guys suck?! Heck, if anything, this tells me its likely that one of Danks or Floyd might get moved in a trade. I would just be better to not say anything rather than engage in massive reality denial. And if if Williams could trade Danks and/or Floyd for position players, he should do it. Floyd has never put up good numbers in tough competition at any level, unless you think last September means something. And his fastball isn't what it once was, which is sort of troubling. I think Danks is a bad fit for the Cell. It's ironic that the Sox traded McCarthy because they thought he'd give up too many HRs -- and then get Danks. And in what I saw of Danks last year, his control was just not good and his stuff wasn't good enough to make for that. If someone is still high on him, the Sox should consider moving him.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Dec 9, 2007 -> 11:12 AM) I would love to get Alexei Ramirez in a White Sox uniform. How much would it take to sign him? I think he would be a great addition and would be a huge upgrade in CF. I like that move a lot. What are the recent rumors about him? I heard about him and Cleveland a while ago, but that was the last I heard. Anyting more recent? There's a good chance Ramirez isn't any better than Owens or Sweeney. He didn't do well in DWL and no one knows if can handle major league ball right away. Kendry Morales certainly wasn't ready right away.

QUOTE(Markbilliards @ Dec 9, 2007 -> 12:02 PM) Yeah I'd take Coco Crisp over Aaron Rowand any day, I just don't see what the BoSox need for him that we can give. Why? Coco has gold glove year defensively last but his offense has been bad the last 2 years. And Fenway played as a great hitters park last season. Last year: .268/.330/.382 for Coco. His career numbers aren't much better than that. Rowand would cost the Sox money plus a non-1st round draft pick. Crisp would cost at least Gio Gonzalez.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Dec 8, 2007 -> 08:55 PM) Splits vs LHP: 2007: .295/.343/.463/.806 Career: .291/.319/.524/.843 Any team that signs Miguel will have control of him for 2 years since he'll still be ARB eligible in 2009. Jeez...he'd be a great platoon partner for AJ....

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 7, 2007 -> 02:32 PM) Oh please, how can anyone argue that the Sox weren't one of the biggest losers of the Winter Meetings? The Sox already had a bad team, all the winter meetings did was not change that. I suppose it's reasonable to say that they were big losers because KW's "plan" fell apart. But that's just because his plan was public. How is Baltimore's plan coming along? Or the Mets (they arguably got worse and failed to address pitching)? And really -- the biggest losers of the winter meeting were fans of the Marlins as Loria pissed all over them again. It's a throwaway column.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 7, 2007 -> 03:16 PM) I thought the reports on Ramirez in winter league stated he wasn't anything special. Then he'll fit right in.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 08:57 PM) Dude, there is no way that putting up a 3.92 ERA in the NL Central last year is just as good as putting up a 4.23 ERA in the AL Central. Heck, Hill gave up nearly 10 more home runs than Garland while we're at it. That's true, but his point about salary and Hill being under control for 5 years is right. Garland may be the better pitcher -- I'll go ahead and say I think he is -- but Hill would bring a lot more trade. I don't that's even debatable.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 01:41 PM) According to Baseball-Reference, Cabrera has 391 career plate appearances as a leadoff hitter. His numbers: .245 .283 .394 .677 In the last 4 years, he has hit leadoff only 25 times. Well, that's it then -- the Sox will have to go with Jerry Owens in CF so they can fill that leadoff position.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 10:08 AM) You still have your numbers a bit off Guillen had a .813 OPS last season, and has a career .772 OPS. Rowand had a .889 OPS last season, and has a career .805 OPS. If Rowand had never played for the Sox before, people would love to get him. I think I was going with a 3-year average for Rowand. You are right I totally mangled Guillen's OPS from last season. So much for my math skills. If you look at Guillen's numbers, he's had an OPS of .813 or over for something like 5 of the last 6 years and was not very good before that. His breakout season coincided with a stay with Oakland. Sort of an interesting coincidence there.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 09:59 AM) There is a very big difference between confidence and arrogance. The Sox seem to be arrogant when it comes to this off-season. Williams is acting like he came off a World Series birth, when in fact this is a team that went 72-90 and needs a ton of work. Even Ozzie seems to know this, yet Williams makes it seem like teams and free agents owe the Sox something. Yeah -- it's possible to be confident and not spout off over-the-top assessments of your team and players. I thought the worst part was his accusation that other teams executives had screwed things up for the Sox by leaking information. That's not going help his working relationship with other GMs. Really, he needs to watch Bull Durham and get his cliches down.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 09:49 AM) Who are you talking about? All right -- fixed it. I will say, signing Rowand wouldn't be that bad of a move if: 1) It means that they won't trade prospects for Crisp 2) Rowand doesn't get a no trade clause 3) The salary isn't above what they've already offered

QUOTE(Melissa1334 @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 09:30 AM) sure theyre spending more than us this offseason but u cant compare them to us. theyre payroll is 50-60 mil, were at 100 or so. plus they give out stupid contracts. meche 5/51?, guillen 3/12mil per, now silva? Meche and Guillen were good signings. Meche was excellent last season and Guillen is an excellent hitter and right fielder. It's a much better use of money than paying a .790 OPS centerfielder $15M a year like the Sox might be about to. Just my opinion, but I'd rather have Moore (KC's GM) running the Sox than Kenny Williams.